Category Archives: Hawaiian Flowers

3 Surprising Ways the Kilauea Eruption Affected Hawaii Flower Farms

3 Surprising Ways the Kilauea Eruption Affected Hawaii Flower Farms

The Kilauea Eruption impacted Hawaii flower farms in many ways. Read this article to learn some of the more surprising impacts and to know about one farm that is still fine able to ship to the mainland US.

When the Kilauea eruption started at the beginning of May, it set off a chain of events that were absolutely devastating for the island. Not only were residences affected, but also many businesses, including the entire Hawaii flower industry.

Even though Hawaii ranks number forty in terms of population, it accounts for over 4% of the entire US flower industry. Given the scope of this eruption, it’s not hard to imagine the problems it has created.

To fully understand what’s occurred on the island, we want to dig into this issue by taking a close look at three surprising ways the Kilauea eruption has directly impacted island flower farms.

1. There’s a Shortage of Island Flowers

Because the eruption was incredibly powerful, the destruction of flowers isn’t all that surprising. What is surprising is the full magnitude of this destruction.

The scope of what the lava has done means it will still take more time to fully assess the damage across the entire island. But based on estimates by industry experts, it’s likely that half of Hawaii’s cut flowers are gone.

Part of what makes this so shocking is just how quickly it happened. When one orchid farm evacuated on June 1st, their surroundings looked sunny and beautiful.

Following that evacuation, it took less than 24 hours for over a quarter of the nursery to be destroyed. Fast forward just 48 more hours, and the entire 12-acre nursery was wrecked by the lava flow.

What makes this situation even more challenging is island flowers aren’t something that can quickly be regenerated by investing money. Instead, it takes a lot of time and care for wiped out flowers to return.

Using an example like orchids, the minimum amount of time to get fully back up with production is three years. That’s assuming all conditions remain optimal. A single factor going wrong could easily add another year of waiting.

2. Prices Have Gone Up

Although many flower farms around the island were completely wiped out, just as many people still want all the beautiful flowers that Hawaii has to offer.

In fact, all the media attention around the eruption has led to even more interest from the continental US in getting these flowers. Many people view this type of purchase as a way to support the Hawaiian economy.

While all forms of financial support are appreciated, the combination of decreased supply and increased demand has caused prices to rise. What’s interesting is this increase hasn’t only affected flowers sent to the mainland.

Throughout the island, flowers sought for local events like graduations and other ceremonies have gone up somewhat. And in some instances, locals and shippers to the mainland have extended their search for specific flowers outside the island of Hawaii.

The increase in both demand and prices for island flowers stands in contrast to many other businesses on the island. Most businesses associated with tourism have seen a quick decrease.

Just how hard have businesses like tour operators and hotels been hit? Most estimates show that the summer’s eruption cut typical tourism numbers in half. This tourism slump was made even worse by concerns about Hurricane Hector.

3. Farms are Getting Help from the Community

Despite mandatory evacuations, some of the most talked about videos and photos from the eruption are from Hawaiians who were incredibly close to the lava.

Given this commitment to the local area, the third impact likely comes as surprise to outsiders despite being expected by those who call the island home.

This impact is the support of the community towards farms that were ravaged by the eruption. Even though countless people lost their homes throughout this ordeal, they’ve been more than willing to lend a helping hand.

One example of this is a local organization bringing together dozens of farmers for an emergency resource meeting. By including other members of the community, the meeting was able to focus on how to move forward in the face of adversity.

This type of community support has been especially critical in rural areas. Working together to manage supplies and other vital resources has helped lift everyone. This is a trend that should continue as owners and employees work to rebuild.

A Hawaii Flower Company That Ships to the Continental US

Although the effects of this eruption on flower farms and the entire region were devastating, Hawaiians are not known for giving up. In the face of this disaster, the entire community has shown its strength and resilience.

With Our Aloha is a company that perfectly embodies the Hawaiian spirit. Even though the eruption created all kinds of challenges for the flower farming community as a whole, our company has worked nonstop to overcome them. This includes looking for the best available flowers and sourcing from other islands.

Because we’ve been in business since 2000, we know exactly what needs to be done in these types of situations. We are fully committed to providing every customer with a delightful experience, and that’s exactly what we continue to do.

Whether you’re ordering flowers for a holiday or fresh leis for a special event, you can count on us to get them to you. The same is true for the different monthly subscriptions we offer.

Not only can you count on With Our Aloha to deliver the best island flowers in a timely manner, but you can also depend on us to continue providing very attractive pricing.

We’re proud of our nearly two decades in business and look forward to many more as a Hawaii flower leader. If you need any assistance with your order, you can easily contact us online or by calling (808) 934-7295.

Top 6 Hawaiian Foods to Have at Your Hawaiian Themed Party

Hawaiian food is unlike any other food in the world. If you’re throwing a Hawaiian themed party, having the best Hawaiian foods is a must. Here are the top ten you need to prepare for your guests.

Have you visited Hawaii recently and come back to the states craving poke bowls and kalua pork? Maybe you’ve always dreamed of visiting the islands, and want to host a party to bring that dream home.

Whether you’ve had these staple Hawaiian foods already or not, you’re going to need them at your Hawaiian themed party to make it feel authentic. Food is a massive part of Hawaiian culture, with lots of different tastes and flavors. That means there’ll be plenty of mouthwatering options for all of your guests’ tastes.

Keep reading for the top six most important Hawaiian foods you need to have at your next party!

Poke Bowls

You’ve probably seen this trendy food item in the states, but did you know it originates in Hawaii?

Poke bowls (pronounced poh-keh) feature super fresh fish cut up into one-inch squares, marinated in sauce and placed atop a bowl of sushi rice. Also included are fresh veggies like seaweed, avocado, and scallions.

You’re probably used to dousing yours with spicy mayo and soy sauce (who can blame you?), but the traditional Hawaiian setup is a little different. The poke is seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt (pa’akai) and combined with seaweed and candlenuts (inamona) in the bowl with rice.

While most poke shops will offer Americanized toppings like teriyaki and spicy mayo, they’ll also feature this traditional setup. If you want the real taste of the islands at your party, stick to tradition– it’ll bring out the fresh flavor of the fish superbly!

Spam Musubi

What’s the deal with Spam and Hawaii?

Here’s the history: after WWII, Hawaii still had a big military presence. We’re talking big. Like, big enough that it was difficult to feed them all.

Enter: SPAM. It was easy to transport to the island, and provided enough meat for all the military men who were seriously lacking in protein. Eventually, so much SPAM was shipped in that it ended up being sold at local supermarkets.

Fast forward to today, and SPAM is considered an essential part of Hawaii’s culinary history. It’s not looked down on as a lesser-than meat like it is on the mainland. In Hawaii, it’s a staple.

Since there were so many Japanese migrant workers after WWII, it’s only natural that they’d influence the cuisine. Spam Musabi is the tasty fusion of Japanese sushi and Hawaii’s love for SPAM.

It’s essentially fried spam atop a square of sushi rice, wrapped together by nori, sashimi-style. Your guests will love it. Pro tip: make sure you cook the SPAM first– SPAM straight from the can is the ultimate no-no in Hawaiian culture.

Poi

Yes, it sounds like the name of one of Peter Pan’s lost boys. Yes, it’s just as magical.

Poi is a thick, sticky paste made from the root of the taro plant, an ancient and seriously revered vegetable in Hawaiian culture. The leaves can be eaten, too (see laulau below). Poi uses just the root.

Traditionally, the taro root is cooked and then pounded with a big, stone pestle on a wooden surface. Water is slowly added to create a thick paste.

It’s simple to make, but is a hot commodity in Hawaii since there are frequent taro shortages.

Fresh taro can be hard to find stateside, but you can get a powder to create poi at home for your party. Serve it as a side, or as an option for any little ones that will be in attendance!

Laulau

Laulau is the main use for the leaves of the taro plant. First, a fatty piece of meat or fish is heavily salted, and then wrapped with the leaves.

Traditionally, the wraps were then placed into underground ovens called “imus” to slowly cook for hours. Today, though, they’re simply tied with some string and steamed.

Laulau is usually served with a side of lomi salmon, another traditional Hawaiian dish, and a big scoop of rice. Taro leaves can be hard to find stateside, but you might have luck at your local Asian or farmer’s market. If not, you can always order frozen lau lau online and reheat for the party!

Lomi Salmon

Lomi salmon: part poke, part salsa.

Lomi salmon doesn’t actually originate in Hawaii, but was brought to the island from other Pacific Islander migrants. Despite this, it’s become a Hawaiian staple.

It’s made by mixing diced tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions with raw salmon that’s been cured with salt for a few hours. It’s essentially a simple, fresh salsa with salmon mixed in to create a salty topping for any dish.

Locals love it atop poi, or on any fatty meats that need some brightening up!

Kalua Pork

If you’re a BBQ pulled pork lover, kalua pork is for you. It’s essentially the best pulled pork you’ll ever have– so good you won’t even need the BBQ sauce. You can find it on almost every lunch and dinner menu on the island, as well as on all the luau menus.

It’s a labor of love, for sure– a full pig is cooked in an imu (an underground oven, remember?) for hours, giving it a super unique, earthy, and smoky flavor that other pulled pork just can’t replicate. The long cooking time and lack of oxygen during cooking keeps the pork incredibly moist, too.

You probably don’t have an imu, but you can roast a whole pig on a spit at home, luau style. If you’re hosting a daytime party, pair it with pasta salad, cabbage, and sticky rice for a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch offering. For dinner, top it with lomi salmon and serve with rice and a side of poi.

Pro tip: this is an especially popular dish at weddings because it feeds so many!

Leis and Hawaiian Foods

Now that you’ve read up on all the most important Hawaiian foods to include at the party, you need to plan your florals! There’s nothing more Hawaiian than a lei.

If you’re having a graduation party, it’s tradition to place a lei around your grad’s neck. Even if no one’s graduating, your guests will love wearing the fresh flower necklace!

How to Get an Orchid to Rebloom

Your orchid may look like it’s dead, but it may just be dormant. Learning how to get an orchid to rebloom is the key to having gorgeous flowers year-round. This guide will teach you everything you need to know.

Do you love to decorate your house with live plants? If you have a green thumb, you might find yourself tired of easy-to-care-for plants and interested in caring for something a little trickier.

Orchids will bring a sense of uniqueness and sophistication to your decor. There are many meanings behind the orchid flower, making it a special addition to your home. With over 25,000 different species of orchids to choose from, you’re sure to find one that matches your home.

However, they can be a very finicky flower to care for, and you might have trouble figuring out how to get an orchid to rebloom. Despite this fact, tons of people take on the challenge of caring for orchids every day.

Are you interested in adding an orchid in your life? Keep reading to learn how to get an orchid to rebloom every year.

Opt for Cooler Temperatures

While many houseplants may enjoy the warmth, cooler temperatures might actually be the key to getting your orchid to rebloom.

Orchids are tropical flowers and usually love warm weather. The best method to help your orchid rebloom is to keep it in a warm environment during the day. At night, move it to a cooler location.

Ideally, the orchid should be kept about 10 degrees cooler at nighttime – or around 55 to 65 degrees. You should continue this routine until you notice a new flower spike appear.

Have you been trying to get your orchard to rebloom and found yourself asking the question “how often do orchids bloom?” If so, we have the answer for you.

Orchids flowers rebloom once a year. While most flowers bloom in spring or summer, many orchids actually bloom in the autumn.

During autumn, the nights get colder. Because of this, keeping your orchid in cooler temperatures at night may help it rebloom by helping it notice that it’s autumn.

Use Ice Cubes as Water

Watering your orchid can be the hardest part of caring for them. If you water them too much, their buds might fall off before they bloom. Continuing to overwater the plant could lead to it dying.

Underwatering can have a similar outcome. If the leaves don’t receive enough water, they’ll suck water away from the buds in order to save themselves. If underwatering continues, your orchid may die.

So how can you tell if you’re watering it the right amount?

Well, your orchid should be able to dry out in-between waterings. If you notice the soil is still damp, hold off watering it until the soil is dry to the touch. If you start to notice your orchid flower buds start to turn yellow or shrivel, that’s a tell-tale sign that they are dehydrated and the plant needs more water.

One good trick is to use ice cubes instead of regular water. About 3 ice cubes should be enough to adequately water your orchid. Plus, the cold water will help chill your plant at night.

Use the Right Fertilizer

Orchids typically don’t need a lot of nutrients to survive. However, in order to get your orchid to rebloom, you might need to include some fertilizer in their pot.

Urea-free fertilizer is the best type to use as it provides nitrogen for your orchid to feed on. However, remember that orchids do not react well to salt, so always avoid fertilizers that contain this harmful ingredient.

Find the Right Lighting

Now, you might hear this and be tempted to place your orchid in direct sunlight to assist in the blooming process. However, direct sunlight can be detrimental to an orchid flower. Too much direct sunlight may cause their delicate petals to burn. Instead, you should keep them in indirect sunlight.

Also, be aware of the damages artificial light can have on an orchid flower as well. Remember when we said that orchid flowers bloom in autumn? Well, in addition to cooler nights, autumn also has shorter days where orchids would have less access to sunlight in nature.

For the reason, keeping your orchid in artificial light 24/7 may prevent it from reblooming. By setting artificial lights to a timer (or by simply turning them off when it’s dark outside), your orchid may notice that the days are shorter and take it as a cue to start blooming again.

This coupled with moving the orchid to a cooler environment at night will help your orchid believe it’s autumn and time to rebloom.

Re-pot Early

Re-potting your orchid can be a difficult process. When your orchid medium begins to break down, your plant’s ventilation may suffer. This can cause a lack of reblooming, so repotting your plant may be necessary for proper orchid care.

However, even if your orchid does need to be repotted, this may not fix the problem right away. Some orchids find repotting to be a traumatizing event and will not rebloom for 6 months to a year. Because of this, you should be sure to re-pot early enough to give your orchid time to settle before blooming season.

To help tell when it’s time to repot, you can look at the roots. If they appear brown or you can see some roots sneaking over the edge of the pot, it’s probably time to re-pot your orchid.

When re-potting, remember to keep your orchid flower in a small pot. They actually thrive on having crowed roots. Also, be sure to cut off any dead roots before placing the flower in its new pot.

How to Get an Orchid to Rebloom

Orchid flowers can be very tricky to work with. They need just the right care in order to thrive and rebloom year after year. If you are new to orchid care, you might wonder how to get an orchid to rebloom.

Hawaiian Lei Day

“May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii.” This phrase is incredibly popular in Hawaii as it is used as a reminder for Lei Day, a state holiday that the island nation of Hawaii celebrates every year on May 1st, instead of celebrating May Day.

Lei Day celebrates Hawaii’s famous fresh flower leis that are used to mark all sorts of celebrations, from school graduations to weddings, and were traditionally used as a sign of peace between tribes.

Lei Day starts on the morning on May 1st and continues throughout the day and into the next day as well; it is one of Hawaii’s most celebrated and popular annual holidays.

How did Lei Day originate?

Lei Day can be traced back to the late 1920s when Don Blanding, a poet and writer, wrote an article for a local newspaper that suggested there should be a day that allows Hawaiians to celebrate the leis that they are famous for. The idea was that the holiday should celebrate the custom of making and wearing a lei to celebrate all sorts of different occasions.

Although Don Blanding came up with the idea of celebrating the lei, it was Grace Tower Warren, another writer, who suggested that the holiday should coincide with May Day. She is also the one who came up with the famous phrase “May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii”, that is still used today.

The first Lei Day was held on May 1st in 1928 in Honolulu, with everyone encouraged to wear leis and take part in the celebrations. In downtown Honolulu, celebrations were held with leis and flowers covering every surface, from felt hats to cars. It was said that the celebrations captured the old spirit of Hawaii – a love of flowers, bright colors, and laughter. The year later, Lei Day was made an official holiday and has been celebrated every year since, with the exception of the years during the Second World War.

How is Lei Day celebrated?

Today, Lei Day is celebrated across Hawaii with the largest Lei Day event being held in Oahu. The celebrations take place in Queen Kapiolani Park in Waikiki, featuring lots of live music, hula dancing, lei making, demonstrations, delicious foods, crafts, and much more. A lei making queen is also crowned to watch over the celebrations.

Across Hawaii, other smaller celebrations are also held, such as in different towns and villages, as well as in schools. These celebrations are similar to the ones held in Oahu but smaller, they still incorporate lei making, music, dancing, food, the crowning of a lei queen and sometimes a lei king as well.

What are the different types of leis?

There are lots of different leis as each of the major Hawaiian islands has its own distinct lei. A lot of people in Hawaii don’t like to say “I love you,” so instead they give a lei to their loved ones, conveying their feelings.

In the main island of Hawaii, a lehua lei is given. This lei is made of the blossoms from a lehua tree, and are normally red, and sometimes yellow, orange or white.

The people of Kauai give a mokihana lei, which is a lei made of purplish berries that are native to the island. These berries are strong and woven with maile, they have a strong smell and stay fresh for longer than more other berries.

In Kaho’olawe, hinahina leis are given. These beautiful leis are made of the hinahina stems and flowers that are silver gray in color and found on the island’s beaches.

The people of Lanai make and give kaunaoa leis. These leis are made from orange-colored strands that are woven together to create bright, beautiful leis.

In Maui, leis are made from the lokelani, a pink rose known as the ‘rose of heaven.’ It has a sweet floral smell and is incredibly delicate.

Those are just a few of the leis that the Hawaiian islands are famous for, there are also many others, including some made from fruit, nuts, and vine, as well as fresh flowers, most often loose orchid blooms.

What are the lei giving etiquettes and customs?

In Hawaii, being given a lei as a gift is seen as a great honor, so if you are given one, you must not take it off in the presence of the person who gave it to you, or it’s considered rude. It’s important to thank the person that gave you the lei and show gratitude for it.

Traditionally, the chiefs of tribes on the Hawaiian islands would give leis as a sign of peace and respect to other tribal chiefs. Which is why they are still given to visitors today, as well as being used to mark celebrations like weddings and births.

Sending Hawaiian Flowers

There is no feeling in the world like being at work and having a delivery of fresh flowers. If you’re going through a rough time, or it was just a thinking-of-you gesture, it makes no difference. Whatever the occasion, a nice arrangement of tropical buds can lift your spirits.

Being male or female doesn’t matter; flowers bring color and life to a room. They don’t have to be for a special occasion; however, people feel special when they get a unique floral arrangement. A bouquet is great for a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion.

Not only does the recipient feel surprised when flowers arrive, but the enthusiasm often is contagious! Just watch the next time someone in your office gets a bouquet of flowers. People around the room get caught up in the kind gesture. Usually, everyone wants to gather around the lucky person to admire the lovely arrangement of fresh blossoms. Of course, most are eager for the recipient to open the card to see who sent them. Arranging the flowers in a favorite vase makes the experience even more fun.

Sending Hawaiian flowers need not be a stressful process. Just select your favorite assortment. Everything will be carefully wrapped. The package will travel by FedEx and arrive within one or two days. And Hawaiian flowers are more durable than other flowers.

Tropical flowers have the ability to make us feel truly warm inside. We marvel at their long-lasting beauty and how they bring a bright happiness to any place. We feel complimented, appreciated and loved at the sight of a beautiful bouquet. It is a feeling that lasts long after the blooms are gone. Contact us today to choose your perfect floral gift for your loved one. You can make someone’s day and improve the atmosphere by selecting a colorful spray.

When most people hear the words “Destination Wedding in Hawaii,” the natural reaction is excitement. Who doesn’t want to go to Hawaii? For the couple getting married, stress follows excitement when they realize how much they need to accomplish from a distance.

Luckily, Hawaii hosts a lot of destination weddings, which means there are resources available to manage everything you need from wherever you call home. Many companies will plan and do everything for you, for the right price. While that may sound tempting and perhaps even ideal, remember that such a plan means that someone else is making a lot of the decisions about your wedding. While they may allow you to choose from various options, keep in mind that they have chosen the options from which you get to choose.

There are also companies that will provide just the level of support you desire. This type of company allows you to retain control over those elements that are most important to you, while allowing them to take care of things such as your Right-of-Entry Permit that will make it legal for you to get married on a beach. While each person will have different things that matter most to them, most people tend to care about location, their flowers, and the gifts they provide to members of the wedding and their guests. When it comes to those items, most people want more than a couple of choices. They also want everything to feel distinctly Hawaiian.

That’s where we come in. When you’re ready to choose your beautiful and distinctive leis and corsages, our selection will allow you to express yourself in the most Hawaiian of ways. What’s more, you can continue to express yourself, and provide a lasting memory, by selecting gifts for your wedding party that will remind them of your wedding in paradise for years to come.

If you’re ready to add the right touches to your Hawaiian wedding, contact us.

The orchid is traditionally a symbol of beauty and love, strength, luxury, fertility, and power. And it is no wonder, with its long stem and exotic brightly colored bloom. The orchid is easily distinguishable and indefinitely elegant—always a well-received gift.

The orchid was not always simply a gift to be given or even purely decorative though. In fact, it has had many uses beyond the ornamental throughout history. In China, the orchid has been used medicinally for centuries, specifically to treat lung and stomach cancers. In ancient Greece and Aztec cultures, the orchid was considered to give strength and the vanilla flavor would be extracted and then ingested in order to gain strength. Yet, in American society, the flower is generally a gift of thought whether for thankfulness, sympathy, or congratulations.

Hawaiian orchids are especially bright and cheerful while still portraying the same elegance and luxury as any other orchid. As with many other flowers, the varying colors of the orchid each hold a specific underlying meaning. Color should be considered before giving an orchid.

Red is a passionate color, usually reserved for romantic love. Pink is also a romantic color, or a color of friendship. Dark red is a color of leadership and courage. Orange generates enthusiasm, creativity, and success. Yellow is a color of joy and energy. Green radiates growth, stability, and healing. Blue is for loyalty, wisdom, and tranquility. Purple is a color used for wisdom, dignity, and mystery. White is a color of purity, and brown is a color of stability and clear thinking.

Contact us for information on the types of Hawaiian orchids that we provide and let us help you decide what would be best for you.